01 R/T to 04 SXT knuckle swap?

OhNoA2.0 · Post by **OhNoA2.0** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:39 pm

Is everything the same between the 2 for an easy swap? I have a warped spindle and I just want to swap out the entire drivers side knuckle. Any differences between the brakes, bearings or anything like that?

Themaggots · Post by **Themaggots** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:42 pm

IIRC, 2002+ have different bearings.

Donkeypuncher · Post by **Donkeypuncher** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:43 pm

I believe the 02+ knuckles have a larger wheel bearing , but aside from that I think it's all the same.

OhNoA2.0 · Post by **OhNoA2.0** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 7:44 pm

But i should be fine swapping the entire knuckle, correct? I was worried about possible caliper differences.

Post by **occasional demons** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:19 pm

ATX knuckles, inner tie rods, and steering gear internal stops are all different than the MTX counter parts. So be sure to use both knuckles if the donor is an ATX. The adjustment range for toe in might be a problem without changing to the ATX inner tie rods.

ATX inner tie rod is the lower one, not connected to the rack. Also note the difference between the blue stop, and the white one.

ACR MAN wrote:Two issues with that swap:

* The outer CV stub is longer on the later 2002-05 axles compared with the 2000-early 2002 axles, to match the increased width of the bearing and hub.

* The location of the tie rod end hole in the knuckle may be different than your existing knuckle, depending on what knuckles you have now and what knuckles you buy to replace them. For example, the ATX knuckles typically have the tie rod end hole more outboard on the casting compared with the MTX knuckles. I ran into this issue when I had to replace both front knuckles on my later 2002 SXT, due to the car's idiot former owner grinding the strut clevis on the knuckle so he could install 1st gen struts. The replacement 2003 knuckles that I bought had the tie rod holes in the "more outboard" location. Fortunately, the tie rods on my car had enough thread to safely adjust toe. Unfortunately, my car's turning radius is wider than it would have been if I could have kept the 2002 MTX knuckles.

OhNoA2.0 · Post by **OhNoA2.0** » Fri Sep 30, 2011 11:56 pm

So, in short, i cant swap them?

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:24 am

You are wanting to use the '01 r/t knuckles in your '04 SXT, ATX equipped car, correct?

From what ACR MAN wrote, it might work better, in that the turning radius would be smaller. You must swap both sides. But iDK if the inner tie rods of your ATX rack will be long enough. In the pic I posted, I installed an '04 ATX rack in my '01 MTX car. I swapped the inner tie rods, and steering stops to keep everything correct. The rack is the same, except for the inner stops.

You might only need to find MTX inner tie rods to use the '01 knuckles. But here is the thing, the inner tie rods that AutoZone sells are only for ATX cars. You may need to go with the name brand stuff to get the MTX inners. They are twice as expensive as the Duralast units.

OhNoA2.0 · Post by **OhNoA2.0** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:44 am

Both vehicles are MTX. Sorry for the confusion.

Post by **occasional demons** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 10:09 am

Ah, I wasn't sure what transaxle you had. You should be golden then.

I don't think they changed the knuckles from one year to the next for MTX, other than the bearing width. Since you have R/T knuckles, the bearings should be the wider ones, like the '04 has.

At least there is some good info for the ATX ppl here.

a23dranger · Post by **a23dranger** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 12:29 pm

Its even good info for ppl wanting to do rack swaps, pt knuckle/brake swaps ect